Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-26
HISTORY OF THE SCHEME.
and Operate the street Railways of
the Three cities. but Failed.

Int Sy Indicate That proposed 10 Lease
and Operate the street Railways of
the Three cities. but Failed.
For several months there has been in
termittent negotiations looking TO the
purchase of the of the street railways in
Davenport. and the Rock Island and Mo-
line lines by syndicate OF New York
and Boston capitalists. with the idea of
consolidating the companies, building the
Davenport and Rock Island line across
the island, and operating all under one
management. The last conference be-
tween the railway directors and repre-
sentatives of the syndicate was held the
other day, and the scheme was aban-
doned The story of these negotiations
will interest the entire community. The
Democrat Gazette gives it as follows;
In April last one Denning came to
Davenport, representing that he was
agent for asyndicate of eastern capitalists
who were interesting themselves in street
railways IN various cities for the purpose
of investment, and he had come to see
what could be done with the companies
here. He was reticent with the names
and addresses of his hackers, but claimed
to be acting in perfectly good faith. He
held conference after conference with the
directors of the three. as he thought.
principal lines in the three cities. and at
l., t.,
to have the Third street line for 81 10. 0aD.
the Brady street line for 800. 900. and the
Rock Island and Moline for $50 900. He
entered into no negotiations with the
Union and Milan lines.
Denning secured the option of the
three lines named with figures for thirty
days aud departed for the east At the
end of thirty days he asked for extension
of the option for thirty days, and ii was
granted.
That was the last of MIR. Deunng in
this direction Two weeks ago II second
party. Messrs Turner and Bowles, of
Boston, appeared on the scene, having
given notice of their coming. II turned
out that they were members of the syn
dictate that Denning pretended to repre-
sent; that he came here without their
authority, but with knowledge of their
intentions that he offered them the
roads whose option he held, but at so
high a figure as his commission that they
would have nothing TO do with mimi So
they came out TO see for themselves
They were well pleased with the lines in
Davenport. Unfortunately, they struck
parties in Rock Island who are in the
ferry interest, and were told that the
Milan railroad was the key to the whole
situation, that Bailey Davenport owned
it, as he did property which INSTRUCTED
the right of way for any railroad
from Davenport that crossed the govern
ment bridges and attempted to connect
with the Rock Island and Moline street
railway. They also found that Denning
had not taken the Union street railway
into consideration. Thus frightened by
the reports of Bailey Davenport's grip
and of the importance of his Milan
street railway, Turner and Bowles started
for home in forty eight hours after their
arrival So it was believed that tde SYM
dictate S schemes had fallen through.
But lOl and behold q third party came
upon the scene last Saturday,. II b..
Gamble and son from New York City
They, with the gentlemen from Boston
were members of the syndicate that Den
ming had been irving to get hold of
They had hoped to meet Turner aud
Bowles here. They looked over the sit
uation carefully, and paid no attention It
bn Miluv, Dbl
obstruction to the right of way OF the
bridge railway. A law was passed by
the Illinois legislature last winter which
takes away the power TO Obstruct an en-
terprise like that, formerly held by am
single individual. The only obstacl,
found was in the figures of the two com
peting railways between Rock Island an,
Moline. They were satisfied with tn
$1,000 for the Third street and tn
100000 for the Brady street line in Dsv
enport-but they were not willing to pa
$4,000 apiece for the two lines acres
the river. They were willing to pa
100000 for both, with the idea of con
solidating them, for each line has ia
advantage of the other in some particu
lars. For instance, the Moline end G
the old line is at a disadvantage IN tina
place, and the west enl of the Unto
line is at disadvantage in Rock Island
But consolidate the two and the invest
ment would be good one. As it is no
the receipts of the two lines aVerae
about Si5 per day each. The fare of
cents for the 3 to 4.mile ride has been CT
To cents, and neither road is maxim
anything.
This is the condition of thin!
over there. as the MeSsrs. Gamble state
they found them. None or all was the
motto-the negotiatiations were broke
square off, and the capitalists have r.
turned home, Everything is off. al
with it the prospect of any consolidate
of the lines of street railways of IL
three cities.